SELECTIVE CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY IN INTRACARDIAC TUMORS

Cardiac catheterization and selective coronary angiography were perfor med in ten patients with intracardiac tumors [left atrial myxoma (7), right atrial myxoma (1), angiosarcoma of right heart (1), and right ve ntricular tumor (1)]. The patient with angiosarcoma had characteristic hemodynamics suggesting cardiac compression. The coronary arteriograp hic finding included: neovascularization (8); filling defect due to em boli (1); and displacement of coronary artery (1). Tumor neovasculariz ation from branches of the left circumflex or right coronary artery wa s invariably observed in patients with myxoma. We conclude that invasi ve studies are safe, provide additional information of academic intere st, and occasionally aid in the diagnosis.